Published: September 28, 2009 4:00 AM

1 of 1 Photos | View More Photos

By IRV OSLIN

T-G Staff Writer

SULLIVAN -- Roads were closed well into the evening and about a dozen homes evacuated Saturday after a tractor-trailer carrying 34,000 pounds of highly concentrated organic peroxide overturned at Ohio 58 and County Road 40.

The truck, which was southbound on Ohio 58, rolled onto its side after it was struck by a car traveling west on County Road 40.

Emergency responders from three different counties conducted an intensive HAZMAT operation that included about 75 people at one point.

[Article continues below]

Three people were injured in the crash, one seriously.

The scenario began at 11:30 a.m., when Deanne R. King, 50, of Elyria was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Impala west on County Road 40 and failed to stop for a stop sign at Ohio 58, according to a report from the Ashland post of the State Highway Patrol.

The Impala struck the left fuel tank of the tractor-trailer. The truck continued south, ran onto a slight embankment on soft ground on the right side of the road and rolled onto its right side.

The Impala spun around and went into a ditch southeast of the intersection. It came to a stop facing north and was wedged in the ditch so the doors could not be opened.

King and her daughter, Sydney A. King, 14, were freed from the wreckage with the help of hydraulic cutting equipment. The Sullivan Emergency Squad transported them to Lodi Community Hospital.

[Article continues below]

Deanne King's injuries were described by the State Highway Patrol as serious but not life-threatening. She later was taken by squad to Akron General Hospital.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Scott R. Littleton, 54, of Elyria, was taken by Wellington Emergency Squad to Lodi Community Hospital. He and Sydney King were treated and released.

All of those involved in the crash were using seat belts.

Littleton was hauling a mixed load of liquid and dry organic peroxide that was packed on pallets, according to County EMA director Mark Rafeld. The peroxide could have exploded if the temperature exceeded 80 degrees or if it came in contact with diesel fuel.

Some fuel spilled onto the ground as a result of the crash. Rafeld estimated it was less than 50 gallons.

Fire departments from Ashland, Lorain and Medina counties responded as well as the Ashland and Lorain county EMAs. Also responding were the Sheriff's Office and Highway Patrol. The Ashland Amateur Radio Club set up at the Sullivan Fire Station and provided communications assistance and the Ashland office of the American Red Cross assisted evacuees.

Residents within an 800-foot radius of the crash were evacuated. Some sought shelter at the Sullivan Fire Department.

Among those evacuated was T.J. Houston, 57 Ohio 58. He was in his house shaving when the crash occurred.

"You heard the crash and felt the ground shake when the tractor hit the ground," Houston said.

Houston recalled that he still had shaving cream on his face when he came outside to see what had happened and photograph the scene.

He spent the rest of the day at Clare-Mar Lakes and went to Mansfield for dinner before returning home.

Those evacuated were cleared to return home after 5:30 p.m., after the HAZMAT team determined the peroxide had not leaked.

Cleanup efforts lasted till about midnight.

There were tense moments during the HAZMAT operation after the truck's refrigeration unit began to smoke.

The HAZMAT team tried to determine that the peroxide was not leaking before moving personnel into the trailer, according to Rafeld. The trailer had swinging doors, which were jammed and could not be easily opened.

The Lorain County Bomb Squad happened to be working on a call in the area and loaned the HAZMAT team its bomb-retrieving robot to try to look into the truck trailer through openings caused by the crash. However, they were unable to get a visual confirmation and ended up sending in personnel, Rafeld said.

Once it was determined the peroxide wasn't leaking, the cargo was off-loaded and removed from the scene.

"It was a serious situation, any one of us could have been killed in a second," Sullivan Fire Chief Jeff Shelton said. "But everyone worked together and it came out good and that's what it's all about."